Free Case Evaluation
Kentucky Failure to Diagnose and Improper Diagnosis Lawyers
Legal help when you are harmed by a failure to diagnose in Kentucky
When a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a medical condition accurately or in a timely manner, the consequences can be devastating for the patient. A failure to diagnose or improper diagnosis can lead to delayed treatment, progression of the disease, and sometimes even life-threatening complications. These errors occur when a physician does not recognize symptoms, misinterprets diagnostic tests, or fails to conduct necessary tests altogether. At Crandall & Pera Law, our Kentucky failure to diagnose attorneys understand the severe consequences these mistakes can have on your health and well-being, and we are committed to helping you seek justice and compensation for the harm caused.
Our attorneys are experienced in cases involving failure to diagnose and improper diagnosis, working diligently to investigate the circumstances of your case. We collaborate with medical experts to determine how your provider breached the standard of care and how this breach caused your suffering. Whether negotiating with insurance companies or representing you in court, our goal is to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages. With our dedicated support, you can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal complexities of your case.
Free Case Evaluation
What is failure to diagnose/improper diagnosis?
Failure to diagnose or improper diagnosis refers to situations where a healthcare provider does not accurately and promptly identify a patient’s medical condition. This type of medical error can occur in several ways, each leading to significant harm:
- Failure to diagnose: This occurs when a healthcare provider completely misses a medical condition, failing to identify it altogether. In these cases, the patient does not receive the necessary treatment for their condition because it goes undetected. The untreated condition can worsen, leading to more severe health issues, complications, or even death. For example, failing to diagnose cancer early can allow the disease to progress to an advanced, less treatable stage.
- Improper diagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare provider incorrectly identifies a medical condition. When a provider diagnoses a patient with the wrong illness or attributes symptoms to the wrong cause, the patient may receive incorrect or unnecessary treatments. This error can lead to harmful side effects or complications. Additionally, the actual underlying condition remains untreated, potentially worsening over time.
Patients who have suffered due to a failure to diagnose or improper diagnosis may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. To succeed in such a claim, patients must demonstrate that the healthcare provider breached the standard of care and this breach directly caused them harm. Our Kentucky failure to diagnose attorneys can help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
What are commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions?
There are many reasons why a doctor may fail to diagnose an illness correctly or efficiently. If the doctor orders the wrong test or if a patient presents with symptoms that fit two conditions, the result can be an incorrect diagnosis. The patient’s condition can be exacerbated because of that, resulting in a delay in diagnosis. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have experience with cases involving:
- Failure to diagnose cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma and sarcomas
- Failure to diagnose heart conditions, such as a heart attack
- Failure to diagnose a stroke
- Failure to diagnose an infection, including sepsis and strep
- Failure to diagnose a bowel leak
- Failure to diagnose bleeding
These are only a few of the types of cases we have successfully resolved through jury trials or settlement negotiations. We are happy to discuss the full breadth of our experience during a consultation to help assure you that choosing Crandall & Pera Law is the right decision.
What are the causes of failure to diagnose in Kentucky?
Failure to diagnose a medical condition can occur for a variety of reasons, often stemming from human error, system failures, or communication breakdowns. One significant cause is inadequate medical history. When healthcare providers do not take a thorough medical history, they can miss vital information about the patient’s symptoms, previous conditions, and family history. This oversight can result in a failure to recognize patterns or risk factors that are crucial for an accurate diagnosis. Additionally, if a provider ignores or does not fully consider the symptoms reported by the patient, they may overlook critical diagnostic clues.
Another common cause of failure to diagnose is the misinterpretation of diagnostic tests. Healthcare providers may misread imaging studies such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, leading to incorrect conclusions about a patient’s condition. Laboratory errors, such as mistakes in analyzing blood tests, biopsies, or other lab results, can also contribute to diagnostic failures. Sometimes, these issues arise from faulty equipment, including malfunctioning or improperly calibrated diagnostic tools, which can produce inaccurate or misleading results.
A failure to order appropriate tests is another factor. In some cases, healthcare providers may not order the necessary tests that could confirm or rule out a potential condition. This error can happen due to a lack of awareness, time constraints, or a misguided belief that the tests are unnecessary. Overreliance on initial impressions without further investigation can also lead to missed diagnoses. Without comprehensive testing, critical information needed for an accurate diagnosis is missing, leaving the underlying condition undetected and untreated.
Communication breakdowns significantly contribute to diagnostic errors. Poor communication between healthcare providers or between providers and patients can result in critical information being lost or misunderstood. Inadequate documentation, handoff errors during shift changes, and lack of follow-up can all lead to a failure to diagnose. Effective communication is essential for ensuring that all relevant information is considered and that the patient receives the appropriate care.
Lastly, systemic issues within the healthcare environment can play a role. High patient volume, time pressures, and inadequate staffing can cause healthcare providers to rush evaluations and overlook important details. Additionally, lack of access to patient records or fragmented care, where different providers do not have a cohesive view of the patient’s history, can result in missed or delayed diagnoses. Addressing these systemic issues is critical for improving diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.
How can your Kentucky failure to diagnose attorneys help with my case?
Our Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys can help you from the very beginning of your claim.
Thorough investigations
Our team conducts a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the failure to diagnose. This involves a careful review of your medical records, interviewing witnesses, and gathering all relevant evidence. We collaborate with medical experts to evaluate the standard of care provided and identify any deviations that led to your injury. Medical experts play a crucial role in establishing the connection between the medical error and the resulting injury.
Building a strong case
Our goal is to build a strong case on your behalf. This effort includes collecting all necessary documentation, such as medical records, expert testimonies, and witness statements, to support your claim. We aim to clearly demonstrate how the healthcare provider’s negligence caused your injury and resulted in damages. Our efforts help create a case that stands up to scrutiny by the opposing side, whether in court or negotiations.
Negotiation and settlement
Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who work tirelessly to reach a fair settlement with the responsible parties or their insurance companies. We work to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs. Medical malpractice can leave you struggling financially and emotionally. After a provider’s failure to diagnose, a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of your injuries and future needs can lift some of the burden on you and your family.
Litigation and trial representation
In cases where it is not possible to reach a fair settlement, the attorneys at Crandall & Pera Law are prepared to take your case to trial. Our lawyers have extensive courtroom experience and are dedicated to advocating for your rights before a judge or jury. From filing the lawsuit to presenting evidence and arguing your case, we are here to advocate for you. We work to achieve a strong settlement or verdict in every case.
Comprehensive support
Our attorneys understand the stress and uncertainty that come with dealing with a medical malpractice case, and we are here to guide you every step of the way. Throughout the legal process, we provide personalized attention and compassionate support. We communicate with you about the progress of your case and are here to answer all of your questions. Never hesitate to reach out to us if you have something to ask.
By leveraging our experience, resources, and dedication, our Kentucky failure-to-diagnose attorneys are committed to providing you with the legal representation and support necessary to achieve justice and secure the compensation you deserve for the harm caused by medical negligence.
Kentucky failure to diagnose / improper diagnosis lawyers on your side
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a failure to diagnose, contact our experienced Kentucky failure to diagnose attorneys today for a free consultation. Let us help you understand your rights, build a strong case, and fight for the compensation you deserve. With our dedicated support and expert legal representation, you can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal complexities. Reach out to us now and take the first step towards securing justice and peace of mind. Call our offices to schedule a free consultation, or you may use our contact form. We maintain offices in Lexington and Louisville for your convenience.